Per Mertesacker is entrusted with the job of collecting fines from Arsenal players in breach of club discipline but the German may find himself going cap in hand to manager Arsene Wenger for his place in the team.

In May, Standard Sport revealed Tottenham’s determination to keep hold of their prize asset but that has not stopped Real making their interest public in a bid to try and force through a transfer.

A number of key figures from the club, including president Florentino Perez coach and new assistant coach Zinedine Zidane, have revealed their desire for the Wales winger to join them at the Bernabeu.

Many of their attempts, in what appeared to be a ploy to unsettle Bale, were aired through Marca. The Spanish newspaper is seen as the club’s mouthpiece and Real were confident a deal would be agreed.

However, Marca revealed today that the club have given up for this summer after realising Spurs would not buckle.

An article on Marca’s website, stated: “Real Madrid have decided to put the Gareth Bale signing on hold. After receiving yet another “no” from Tottenham Hotspur, Florentino Perez and his team have decided to call it a day and now see the signing of Bale this summer as impossible.

“Daniel Levy, the English club’s president, is not open to negotiation, and faced with such inflexibility, reaching any sort of agreement is not viable.”

Last night, Bale’s agent Jonathan Barnett confirmed that Madrid had yet to even make a bid and that the winger was focussing on returning to pre-season training next week.

As Standard Sport reported earlier this summer, Bale is happy at White Hart Lane and he was not prepared to force a transfer through like Luka Modric did to Madrid last summer.

However, Madrid are hopeful that they will succeed in 12 months’ time and will make a stronger attempt to buy the 23 year old then.

The article in Marca added: “He is content to stay for another year in England, despite the fact that his club will not be taking part in the Champions League. He says that he’s very thankful to Tottenham and that he’s happy where he is.

“Bale has no release clause, will not be making a transfer request, and considers that, being only 23, he has time enough to make the jump into the big time. And when that happens, he wants it to be with ‘Los Blancos’.”

Bale has three years remaining on his contract and has been offered an improved deal worth £130,000 a week.